Blinken arrives in Israel as Netanyahu vows to pursue Rafah offensive

FRANCE 24

29 April 2024 at 10:02 pm·1-min read

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Tuesday to push for a much-awaited ceasefire deal hours after Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu vowed to launch a military offensive on Rafah “with or without” a deal. Hamas is still studying a proposed deal involving a 40-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of scores of Israeli hostages. Read our blog to see how the day's events unfolded.

This blog is no longer being updated. For more coverage of the Israel-Hamas war, please click here.

Summary:

United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths warned on Tuesday that despite global calls for Israel to spare Rafah in the Gaza Strip, "a ground operation there is on the immediate horizon."
He also said in a statement that Israeli improvements to aid access in Gaza "cannot be used to prepare for or justify a full-blown military assault on Rafah."
9:39pm: Portuguese-flagged ship is hit far in Arabian Sea, raising concerns over Houthi rebel capabilities
A Portuguese-flagged container ship came under attack by a drone in the far reaches of the Arabian Sea, corresponding with a claim by Yemen's Houthi rebels that they assaulted the ship there, authorities said Tuesday.
Blinken demanded that Hamas accept a proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and release of hostages as the Palestinian militant group prepared its response.

Read more on FRANCE 24 English

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Summary:

9:39pm: Portuguese-flagged ship is hit far in Arabian Sea, raising concerns over Houthi rebel capabilities

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